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H12-064 - Information

October 9, 2012

|TO: |Home and Community Services (HCS) Division Regional Administrators |

| |Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Regional Administrators |

| |Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Directors |

|FROM: |Bill Moss, Director, Home and Community Services Division |

| |Linda Rolfe, Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities |

|SUBJECT: |Seasonal Flu Information – Flu Vaccines for Adults and Children 2012-2013 |

|Purpose: |To update case managers, nurses and social workers about the 2012-2013 flu information and vaccination |

| |recommendations. |

|Background: |Many of the individuals we serve, their caregivers and families are at risk of the flu. Nationally, flu |

| |accounts for over 200,000 hospitalizations and approximately 36,000 deaths. |

| | |

| |Much of the U.S. population is at high risk from serious flu complications either because of their age or |

| |because they have a medical condition like asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, or because they are pregnant. |

| |Over 30% of people 50-64 years of age have one or more underlying health conditions that put them at |

| |increased risk for serious complications from flu. All children younger than 5 years and all adults 65 years |

| |and older are also at increased risk of severe illness from influenza. |

| | |

| |Take 3 Messages |

| |The Centers for Disease Control recommends a three-step approach to fighting the flu: |

| |Vaccination. |

| |Everyday preventive actions. |

| |Use of antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them. |

|What’s new, changed, or |Influenza viruses are always changing and because of this, influenza vaccines are updated every year. This |

|Clarified |year there will be one vaccine. |

| | |

| |Seasonal Flu Vaccination |

| |The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in|

| |protecting against flu viruses. |

| |While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research |

| |suggests will be most common this season. |

| |The 2012-2013 vaccine is composed of two Influenza A viruses: (H1N1) and (H3N2), and one B virus. |

| | |

| |Who should get vaccinated? |

| |Everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. It is especially important for|

| |some people to get vaccinated. Those people include the following: |

| |People who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu.|

| |This includes: |

| |People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease. |

| |Pregnant women. |

| |People age 65 years and older. |

| |People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications |

| |This includes household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, |

| |diabetes and chronic lung disease. |

| |A detailed list is available at Who Should Get Vaccinated Against Influenza. A complete list of health and |

| |age factors that are known to increase a person’s risk of developing serious complications from flu is |

| |available at People Who Are at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications. |

| | |

| |When Should I Get Vaccinated? |

| |CDC recommends that people get vaccinated against influenza as soon as 2012-2013 flu season vaccine becomes |

| |available in their community. Influenza seasons are unpredictable and can begin as early as October. |

| |It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection |

| |against the flu. |

| | |

| |Everyday Preventive Actions |

| |In addition to getting the flu vaccination, you can take the following everyday preventive steps: |

| | |

| |Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash|

| |and wash your hands. |

| |Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand |

| |rub. |

| |Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. |

| |Try to avoid close contact with sick people. |

| |If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your|

| |fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use|

| |of a fever-reducing medicine.) |

| |While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. |

| |For more information, see |

| |Use of antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them: |

| |If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness. |

| |Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. Antiviral drugs fight influenza viruses in your body. |

| |Antibiotics fight against bacterial infections. |

| |Everyone who has flu symptoms does not need antiviral drugs. Your doctor will decide whether antiviral drugs|

| |are right for you. |

| |Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) and are not available |

| |over-the-counter. |

| |Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. |

| |Payment for the vaccine |

| |Medicare and Medicaid will pay for the seasonal flu vaccine. Clients and caregivers with other insurance |

| |coverage should verify with their insurance company which flu vaccines will be covered. |

| | |

| |Medicaid Transportation Brokers will provide transportation to physician’s offices and pharmacies providing |

| |flu vaccines if they are billing Medicaid and the requested pharmacies are approved providers. We have not |

| |yet received notice of which community pharmacies will be billing Medicaid, but will provide that information|

| |to staff as soon as it becomes available. |

|ACTION: |None. Information only. |

|Related | |

|REFERENCES: |Flu Clinic Locator: Find a clinic near you to get your flu vaccine |

| |Provided by the American Lung Association |

| | |

| |CDC Where you Live flu vaccine finder |

| | |

| |Media and educational materials for seasonal flu will be posted on the |

| |Influenza Update section of the Department of Health (DOH) Website: |

| | |

| | |

| | |

| |Flu (print) resources: |

| | includes: |

| |Spanish and other language flu resources |

| |Family and Children General Public |

| |High Risk Conditions Pregnant Women |

| |Age 19-24 Seniors 65+ |

| |Health Care Workers Minority Populations |

| | |

| |Information Portal for Health Care Professionals |

| | |

| |Hand washing: |

| | |

| |Cover Your Cough: |

| | |

|ATTACHMENT(S): | |

| | |

|CONTACT(S): |Candace (Candy) Goehring, MN RN |

| |Office Chief |

| |Chronic Care, Well Being and Performance Improvement |

| |(360) 725-2562 |

| |goehrcs@dshs. |

| | |

| |Christina Garcia RN |

| |Unit Supervisor |

| |Fostering Well Being Care Coordination Unit |

| |(360) 725-1737 |

| |garcic1@dshs. |

| | |

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